Combined brush and comb

ABSTRACT

A combined brush and comb having a body, brush tufts on an exterior surface of the body, a comb which may be adjusted for various angles with respect to the body of the brush and retractable handles for ease of gripping and positioning the brush and comb. The combination of the brush and comb has many practical advantages such as minimizing the possibility of losing the comb or not having it available when it is desired to use it with the brush, the advantage of having retractable handles which move into the body of the brush so as to save space, the advantage of packing one object, while traveling, instead of a separate brush and also a separate comb, the convenience of being able to keep the combined brush and comb in a desk drawer for a office worker or in a brief case for a person who visiting at another place of business and who wishes to freshen up immediately before entering the other place of business for an interview.

United States Patent Messer 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] COMBINED BRUSH AND COMB [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 63,359

[52] US. Cl. ..l32/l20, 15/144 B [51] Int. Cl ..A45d 24/16, B25q 1/04 [58] Field of Search ..15/143 B, 144 B; 119/85; 132/120, 121; 306/12-14 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,745 6/1913 Sutton l 32/ 120 1,303,720 5/1919 Peltier ..132/120 2,304,665 8/1942 Smith et ..132/120 2,447,953 8/ 1948 Maniglia ..132/120 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 206,062 11/1923 Great Britain ..15/144 B Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-Thomas W. Secrest ABSTRACT A combined brush and comb having a body, brush tufts on an exterior surface of the body, a comb which may be adjusted for various angles with respect to the body of the brush and retractable handles for ease of gripping and positioning the brush and comb. The combination of the brush and comb has many practical advantages such as minimizing the possibility of losing the comb or not having it available when it is desired to use it with the brush, the advantage of having retractable handles which move into the body of the brush so as to save space, the advantage of packing one object, while traveling, instead of a separate brush and also a separate comb, the convenience of being able 'to keep the combined brush and comb in a desk drawer for a office worker or in a brief case for a person who visiting at another place of business and who wishes to freshen up immediately before entering the other place of business for an interview.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEnsEP 12 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 2 ww lyl I I I ll Ill-M Qml.

INVENTOR. 7710mm V MESS'ER HTTQRNEY PATENTEDSEP 12 Ian SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. 45 M Messez ATTORNEY COMBINED BRUSH AND COMB The use of a comb and the use of a brush for grooming hair are well known. Some individuals prefer to use a comb for grooming hair while other individuals prefer to use a brush for grooming hair. Further, some individuals prefer to use both a comb and a brush for grooming hair. And, some individuals on certain occasions prefer to use a comb and on other occasions prefer to use a brush for grooming the hair. For those who prefer to use both a comb and a brush it has been necessary to have a separate comb and to have a separate brush. This means that this person must carry two articles for grooming the hair. With this background and having had to face the problem of carrying two separate articles for grooming the hair I have invented this combined brush and comb whereby I can comb my hair when I so desire or brush my hair when I so desire. This combined brush and comb makes it easier for me to groom my hair. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combined brush and comb whereby the user can decide if he wants to comb his hair or brush his hair or both comb and brush his hair with one article; to provide a combined brush and comb which saves space in storage and packing in that there is one article instead of two articles; to provide a combined brush and comb having retractable handles for ease of storing and packing in that the handles can be retracted into the body of the brush and also that these handles can be extended and readily grasped by the person using the combined brush and comb; to provide a combined brush and comb which is of relatively small dimensions and can be stored in a desk drawer or in a brief case so that the use can take this article from the desk drawer and the brief case and groom his hair prior to an appointment or an interview; to provide a combined brush and comb having means to position the comb at various angles with respect to the body of the brush so as to allow the user to select the desired angle for the comb; and, to provide a combined brush and comb which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined brush and comb having handles extendible from either end to facilitate its use by either a lefthanded or a right-handed person.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will be more particularly brought forth upon reference to the accompanying drawings, the detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view looking at the combined brush and comb and illustrates the body thereof, the brush tufts facing the observer, the comb on the body of the brush, and the retractable handles which are in an extended position for ease of holding the combined brush and comb, and also illustrates, the part of the body with tufts broken away, the pin for restricting the outward movement of the handle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the combined brush and comb, the body thereof, the brush tufts facing the observer, a portion of the comb on the body of the brush, and the handles retracted into the body of the brush;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the combined brush and comb, the brush tufts standing upwardly on the body of the brush, and the handles in a partly extended or partly retracted position with respect to the body of the brush;

FIG. 4, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2, is a lateral crosssectional view illustrating some of the details of construction of the combined brush and comb, and illustrates some of the details of construction thereof and in particular the body of the brush, the brush tufts on the body of the brush, the comb and the clip lock mechanism for positioning the comb with respect to various angles to the body of the brush, and the retractable handles in the body of the brush; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view looking down on the combined brush and comb and shows the body of the brush, the brush tufts on the body of the brush, the comb and one handle retracted into the body of the brush with the other handle extended outwardly from the body of the brush for ease of holding the brush.

The invention, FIGS. 1 and 5, includes 'a hollow hair brush body 26 holding two oval-shaped telescoping retractable handles 14 and 18 and holding a comb 2 which is attached to the brush by a pin 8, running through the comb, which fits into two protrusions from the body 26 of the brush, lug 30 and clip lock 32. At the end shown on the right side of FIG. 1, a spring 6 fitting over thepin 8 and fitting inside the body of the comb exerts pressure through the pin which holds the comb steady in place. On the left side the comb 2 is also held in place by a pin 10 going from a position in the clip lock 32 to a position in the body of the comb 2. The retractable handles 14 and 18, when not in use, fit in recesses 28 having an oval configuration at each end of the brush. On the side of the right retractable handle 14 as shown in FIG. 1, are slight ridges 16 which fit into grooves 62 in the brush body 26 in such a manner as to hold the retractable handle 14 firmly in place. Similar ridges 20 perform the same function for the handle 18 shown on the left side. The comb 2 may be disengaged from the brush body 26 by exerting a slight pressure from left to right against the spring 6 so that the pin 8 moves from the clip lock 32 and allows the left end of the comb 2 to be lifted, whereupon the comb 2, which holds the spring may be removed from contact with the lug 30 by pulling it away. To engage the comb 2 into a position on the clip lock 32, a slight pressure is exerted from the side shown on the left, in FIGS. 1 and 2, disengaging the pin 10 and allowing the comb to be rotated to the desired position and then upon removal of the pressure the pin 10 reengages the clip lock 32 holding the comb steady in position. In normal position the comb 2 fits snugly against the clip lock 32. The right end of the comb 2 is at a small distance from the lug 30. When disengaged from the clip lock 32, either for changing the combs position or replacing it, the comb 2 moves slightly to the right as shown by the phantom lines 4, which indicate the right end of the comb 2. (For details of the clip lock 32, see FIG. 4.)

FIG. 2 shows the retractable handles fitted into the body 26 of the brush with only the ends 22 of the handles not in the body of the brush. The non-striated portion of FIG. 4 shows the mechanism of the clip lock 32 as engaged by the pin 10 in the comb.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the brush body 26, the bristles 34 and the manner by which the retractable handles 14 and 18 are held steadily in place and consides 54 of the handles fit into recesses 28 of the brush body 26. In addition, in the handle 18, there is a slot 50 into which fits a peg 42 imbedded into the brush body 26. This slot and peg arrangement serves to steady the handle 18 and to keep it from falling out of the body 26 of the brush when the user extends the handle 18.

' The handle 18 shown on the left side is somewhat smaller in each dimension than the handle 14 shown on the right and the end 40 of the left handle 18 is not open. The end 38 of the handle 14 is open. Thus, when the handles are retracted into the body of the brush the portion of the left handle 18, fitting into the recess 28, slides into the right handle 14 and fits into the recess 28 allowing for the handles to be long enough to be easily held in the users hand but not requiring such excess storage space for said handles in the brush handle as to make the brush and brush handle larger than needed for brushing and combing the hair and not making the brush and brush handle bulky for storage.

A slot 56 is provided at the bottom of the brush body 26 for storing an extra comb.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the brush handle body 26. It shows the body of the right telescopic handle l4 recessed into the brush handle. A slot 64, in the telescopic handle 14, into which the peg 46 from the interior of the brush body 26 fits, steadies the telescopic handle. Another slot 50 on the side of the telescopic handle 18 engages a similar peg 42 from the brush body 26 and performs the same function. The shell of the telescopic handle 18 is so formed as to fit into grooves in the interior of the brush body 26 and further steady the telescopic handle.

FIG. 4 shows in phantom 2A the comb in a position parallel to the bristle tufts 34 of the brush, and perpendicular to them, 2. The clip lock 32 contains a plurality of holes 48' into any of which the pin on the comb 2' may be engaged, allowing the comb 2 to be adjusted from an angle parallel to the bristles 34 to angles up to 90 from the bristles 34. This enables the user to adjust the comb 2 in such position as he desires. The manner of engaging the pin in the comb to the holes in the clip lock is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows the invention from a perspective view with one handle extended and the whole device ready for use. Again shown are the comb 2, the bristles 34, the handle 14, and the brush body 26. This view is intended to show the appearance of the invention as seen by a user. In FIG. 4 it is seen that ridges 16 form a tongue 24 on one side of handle 14, and that ridges 20 form a tongue'36 on that portion of handle 18 which is not in contact with handle 14. It is further seen that, in cross-section, handle 14 has a generally U-shaped configuration, with the tongue 24 forming the base of the U-shape and sides 54 forming the legs. Groove 62 in the brush body 26 mates with tongue 24 of handle 14, and groove 44 in brush body 26 mates with tongue 36 of handle 18.

From the foregoing it is seen that I have provided a combined brush and comb having a body for housing retractable handles. The comb may be adjusted with respect to the body of the brush and as convenient to the user. This is possible because of the clip lock 32 and the pin l0.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 it is seen that the pin 10 projects outwardly from the comb 2 less than the pin 8 projects outwardly from the comb 2. This assists in making it possible to rotate the comb 2 with respect to the body 26 of the brush. Further, as is seen in these FIGS. 1 and 2 it is possible to move the comb 2 to the right so that the pin 8 is out of contact with the clip lock 32 thereby making it possible to remove the comb from the brush. As a result a new comb can be introduced to the brush by the reverse step of moving the comb to the right and compressing the spring and then allowing the pin 8 to move into position in the hole in the clip lock 32.

From the foregoing and having presented my invention what I claim is:

1. A brush, said brush comprising:

a. a body of a brush handle;

b. said body having a first end and a second end;

c. said body having a central recess portion;

d. said body on an exterior surface having brush tufts; I

e. a first handle;

f. said first handle being capable of being retracted into said central recess portion;

g. on said body there being a clip lock and a lug;

h. said clip lock and said lug being spaced apart;

i. a comb;

j. a first means positioning said comb between said clip lock and said lug and on said body;

k. said clip lock having a series of first recesses for receiving a pin;

I. said comb having an outwardly projecting first pin for registering with one of said first recesses;

m. said clip lock having a second recess;

n. said lug having a third recess;

0. said comb having a pin means for registering with said second recess and said third recess so as to position said comb between said clip lock and said lug for rotarotational movement therebetween;

p. said comb being movable on said pin means and of less length than the distance between said clip lock and said lug so as to allow longitudinal movement of said comb between said clip lock and said lug; and,

q. said comb, said pin means, said first pin, said second recess and said third recess, and said distance between said clip lock and said lug being of such dimensions that said comb may be moved toward said lug and said first pin may be moved out of said first recess to allow said comb to be rotated with respect to said body.

2. A brush according to claim 1 and comprising:

a. a first means to limit the outward movement of said first handle; and,

b. a second means to limit the inward movement of said first handle.

3. A brush according to claim 1 and comprising:

a. said body being of a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration and having a first side, a second side, a first edge, a second edge, a first end and a second end;

b. said central recess portion in a lateral cross-sectional view being of a generally oval configuration and on a first end of said oval having a first groove means to function as a first guide and on a second end of said oval having a second groove means to function as a second guide;

e. said second handle having an outer configuration for mating in a telescopic relationship with said first handle; and,

f. said second handle having a second tongue means for mating with said second groove means.

I k i i t 

1. A brush, said brush comprising: a. a body of a brush handle; b. said body having a first end and a second end; c. said body having a central recess portion; d. said body on an exterior surface having brush tufts; e. a first handle; f. said first handle being capable of being retracted into said central recess portion; g. on said body there being a clip lock and a lug; h. said clip lock and said lug being spaced apart; i. a comb; j. a first means positioning said comb between said clip lock and said lug and on said body; k. said clip lock having a series of first recesses for receiving a pin; l. said comb having an outwardly projecting first pin for registering with one of said first recesses; m. said clip lock having a second recess; n. said lug having a third recess; o. said comb having a pin means for registering with said second recess and said third recess so as to position said comb between said clip lock and said lug for rotarotational movement therebetween; p. said comb being movable on said pin means and of less length than the distance between said clip lock and said lug so as to allow longitudinal movement of said comb between said clip lock and said lug; and, q. said comb, said pin means, said first pin, said second recess and said third recess, and said distance between said clip lock and said lug being of such dimensions that said comb may be moved toward said lug and said first pin may be moved out of said first recess to allow said comb to be rotated with respect to said body.
 2. A brush according to claim 1 and comprising: a. a first means to limit the outward movement of said first handle; and, b. a second means to limit the inward movement of said first handle.
 3. A brush according to claim 1 and comprising: a. said body being of a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration and having a first side, a second side, a first edge, a second edge, a first end and a second end; b. said central recess portion in a lateral cross-sectional view being of a generally oval configuration and on a first end of said oval having a first groove means to function as a first guide and on a second end of said oval having a second groove means to function as a second guide; c. said first handle, in a lateral cross-sectional configuration, having a generally U-configuration with a base and two legs for mating in a telescopic relationship with said central recess portion in said body, and on said base a first tongue means for mating with said first groove means; d. a second handle; e. said second handle having an outer configuration for mating in a telescopic relationship with said first handle; and, f. said second handle having a second tongue means for mating with said second groove means. 